Once, a young woman lived alone near the edge of a forest. She took the same path from her house to the forest each day. There, she planted a small garden, and what her garden did not provide, the forest gave her freely. And though each day was much the same, she lived quite a happy and carefree life.
She made friends with some forest animals that ventured near her tiny dwelling. But she was careful to avoid some of the more fearsome beasts that lurked within the shadow of the forest. She planted flowers near her house to attract the hummingbirds that flitted about from flower to flower, enjoying their daily nectar. Life was good, and she was content.
One day she arose, and she found herself in entirely new surroundings. Gone were her house near the forest and everything else she held dear. She kept looking and walking around and felt completely and utterly alone for the first time. She gazed at the path ahead, engulfed in darkness.
A myriad of thoughts plagued her mind. She wondered how she would find food and shelter in the darkness. She pondered many things, for there was no one to come to her aid. Or so she thought. Desperate, she spoke aloud to the darkness but not expecting a response.
Suddenly, a voice spoke, “Stay on the path.” The voice gave her such a fright. She had never heard another voice before—she had been alone for so long. Then, she thought aloud, “Wait, what path?” At that moment, she swayed ever so slightly to the left and made the most miraculous discovery.
She found that she was indeed walking on a path. Although she could not see where she was going, a path was lit before her. All she had to do was have the courage to keep walking it. So she took a deep breath, bolstered her courage, and began to walk.
At first, the darkness seemed endless. But the young woman continued to trust that the path was there. After some time, she began to notice that she was not as fearful as before. Her stride became more confident the more she walked. The darkness did not bother her any longer. Because she knew she was not alone.
Little by little, the darkness began to lift. The changes were so subtle the young woman barely noticed. Finally, one day, she looked up and was at the edge of a beautiful new forest. This forest was full of friendly creatures and some fearsome ones. But it was a place where she could call home.
So she found a new home where she could be close to her new forest friends and quickly planted some flowers. She still loved seeing her hummingbird friends flitting about from flower to flower, enjoying their daily nectar.
On some days, the young woman would sit on the front porch and gaze at the path that led her to her new home. Alone, but not alone, the young woman would often say out loud and then smile. For life was good, and she was at peace.